Soko
is a third cashgate convict after conviction and sentencing of former Principle
Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism Tressa Namathanga Senzani to three years
and nine month imprisonment. And Patrick Victor Sithole a former Accounts
Assistant on Tuesday this week was sentenced to 9 years imprisonment both on
cashgate cases.
Soko a businessman who owns Wymbaso General Suppliers was found guilty and convicted of Money Laundering and Theft of K40.953 million which is 0.2% of total money stolen from cashgate scam.
The
third cashgate convict is expected to be sentenced on Thursday afternoon
following sentencing submissions made on Friday in the chamber of Senior
Resident Magistrate Patrick Chirwa.
After
submissions the defense lawyer Henry Kadzakumanja declined to reveal what was
submitted to the court. The lawyer said he fears that revealing their
mitigation factors to members of Press would encourage wrong judgments by the
general public which in turn would influence the Magistrate’s decision when passing
the sentence.
“We
don’t want comments from the media, because we have observed that there are a
lot of comments in the media and these Magistrates or Judges are human beings
they read these things and that might influence the decision” he said
However
the State Prosecutor Sam M’bweza said they are to respond by Wednesday next
week to submissions made by the defense. He said the state has requested for
ample time to look at health documents of the accused submitted by the defense
to the court as part of mitigation factors.
After
the response by the state on Wednesday next week both lawyers confirmed that on
Thursday 13 November at 13:30 hours, Senior Resident Magistrate Chirwa
will pass Judgment to Soko.
Currently
Wyson Zinyemba Soko is on remand pending sentence on Thursday next week.
The
accused still denies the ownership of the money. In previous proceedings he testified
in the court that the money in question belongs to Godfrey Banda whom he declined
to reveal his identity.
Soko
said it is a responsibility of the state to investigate and find who that
Godfrey Banda is.
According
to a Baker Tilly Audit into Cashgate report, Soko through his company withdrew government
money among them was cheque number 16780, dated 16/08/2013 signed by public
officers Clemence Madzi, Auzius Kazombo Mwale and Roosevelt Ndovi. He was paid
without evidence of rendering any service to government.
His business, Wymbaso General Suppliers is also among
14 businesses included in a Baker Tilly cashgate audit report category where Commercial banks were unable to locate cheque
images or supporting documents for high value receipts and payments. The
report indicates that though the audit team arranged for subpoena’s
requesting all necessary financial information to be provided by the commercial
banks and requested cheque images (front and back) for all payments made following
the deposit of the Government of Malawi cheques, not all of this information
could be provided for example by Standard Bank transaction with Wymbaso General
Suppliers regarding MK2, 000,000 payment.
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